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Topic Review (Newest First)

07-15-2013 03:30 PM

miatapaul

Re: Wheel to tiller conversion possible?

Quote:

Originally Posted by XDLaser

it's possible in any boat, the question is time and $$$money, it won't be easy

well on some boats it may be possible, but not really practical, as the location of the rudder shaft could be in a very inconvenient location, like in some center cockpit boats under the rear birth! Other boats it may be impractical due to the design of the boat expecting the quadrant and drive mechanism of wheel to give a big mechanical advantage. So the tiller may not be usable!

Now that tiller is nice, but won't exactly work on a 30 foot boat! (from the Clearwater)

07-15-2013 01:40 PM

XDLaser

Re: Wheel to tiller conversion possible?

it's possible in any boat, the question is time and $$$money, it won't be easy

07-10-2013 08:20 AM

blutoyz

Re: Wheel to tiller conversion possible?

Quote:

Originally Posted by utchuckd

Thanks. No specific boats yet, just wondering if it would rule any boats out when I'm looking.

Buy what you want...there are lots of boats out there and a wheel will usually be harder to find in the sub 30 foot size anyway

Have fun

07-09-2013 09:35 PM

MarcHall

Re: Wheel to tiller conversion possible?

Quote:

Originally Posted by utchuckd

Thanks. No specific boats yet, just wondering if it would rule any boats out when I'm looking.

Converted my Crealock 37 from wheel to tiller a few months ago.

Needed to drop the rudder and have an extension welded to it, a bearing added to where it emerges into the cockpit, and a few bits and pieces.
Remove the wheel, quadrant, pedestal, etc. Move the engine controls from the pedestal, move the instruments from the pedestal.

A tiller really implies that the rudder is a 'balanced' design so that the forces needed for the tiller when the boat is at high speed is light or easy to move.
A 'barn door' rudder, one that attached by 'hinges' to the end of a full keel or to a 'skeg' require a LOT of force to turn when the boat is at speed ... and functionally they are best turned with a 'wheel' that can generate a lot of mechanical advantage.

For a tiller the 'best match' is a 'balanced' spade rudder, the worst match-up would be a 'barn door' 'hinged' or pintle hung rudder. If the rudder is 'balanced' then the tiller will only need 'finger tip' pressure to hold the boat on a straight course but if the rudder is not 'balanced' sometimes you'll need arms like Popeye to overcome the adverse helm pressure when 'steering'.

Yes, if you want to buy with the idea of converting, then you want to make sure you pick a boat that the tiller was offered, otherwise you might wind up with a very stiff tiller. I would love to find a mid size boat with a tiller, mid to upper thirty footer, but not many are available.

07-09-2013 02:41 PM

jimgo

Re: Wheel to tiller conversion possible?

Jwood, you're better off starting a new thread. But yes, it can be done, depending on the boat. Whether you'd WANT to do it, and whether it's really a good idea for that boat, is another story. For example, on my 15' Albacore, a wheel wouldn't be a good idea. Many folks will tell you that you are better off keeping the tiller because of the increased "feel", ability to make rapid course corrections more easily, simplicity of the mechanics (less to break), ability to free up the cockpit while at the slip, etc. Start a new thread and ask the question again, and if you can, give us a feel for the size/type of boat you're considering.

07-09-2013 01:05 PM

Jwood2

Re: Wheel to tiller conversion possible?

Is it possible to get a steering wheel helm from just a Tiller?
I am looking at getting a boat, but the ones I do like just have the tiller and I would like the option.

03-01-2012 01:13 PM

Barquito

I think it depends on what size boat you are looking for. If you are looking at sub 30' boats, you will find enough with tiller steering that you shouldn't bother shopping for boats with wheels and do a conversion.

BTW, I like a tiller b/c when at port it lifts completely out of the way, and while sailing, I can steer and still just reach the companion way.

03-01-2012 12:01 PM

Faster

Quote:

Originally Posted by olson34

Small World!
I have been crewing part time on an E-33 with the optional wheel for a couple decades.

The E-33 is surprisingly quick.. but the one I've sailed on has a non stock rudder than is less than ideally balanced so with a tiller it can be a bit of a beast, but dialed in she's very hard to beat. Good lines, great rig proportions, good cockpit.. my only beef with the boat is it's a bit dark below, esp compared to our rather bright interior. But we can't normally catch her, esp upwind.

Interestingly the 36, very similar looking and also by Holland, has a masthead rig.

03-01-2012 11:18 AM

olson34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faster

A friend has an Ericson 33 that originally had a wheel and is now tiller steered. This boat's rudder stock has a top bushing and exposed shaft nearly at deck level so attaching the tiller was a simple matter.

He does have a circular hump in the cockpit where the original pedestal hole has been covered with a gasketed plate, but generally it's not in the way of anything while sailing. The original quadrant is still on the stock below decks, but again not really in the way of anything.

Wheel-to-tiller will obviously be less costly than going the other way, esp if you can sell the pedestal later on.

Small World!
I have been crewing part time on an E-33 with the optional wheel for a couple decades. At one point we even had two of these rare Ron Holland-designed Ericsons in our little yacht club, and the second one had the stock tiller.
When we were shopping we really wanted to find an O-34 with the tiller, but could only find one with the wheel. We learned to live with the limitations, and there are times when the wheel has an advantage - like maneuvering under power in the moorage. For sailing it would be nicer to be able to sit on the combing with hiking stick in hand, tho.

LB

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